[Serum reactivity of antigen fractions of atypical mycobacteria in patients with lung diseases]. / Serumreaktivität von Antigenfraktionen aus atypischen Mykobakterien (MOTT) bei Lungenerkrankungen.

In connection with studies on the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis antigen fractions were isolated from 8 mycobacteria species, three out of each strain. These fractions were tested for their reactivity to serum antibodies by means of RIA-technique, using 40 selected sera from controls, and patients with sarcoidosis, tuberculosis and asthma. Comparing the results (average titer steps) sera from asthmatics showed the lowest and those from sarcoidosis patients the highest reactivities to the mycobacterial antigen fractions. The reactivities clearly differed in dependence on the mycobacteria species. The highest mean reactivity in sarcoidosis patients was found with the HIP-antigen fraction of M. xenopi. It was 8 times higher compared to the control sera as well as the tuberculosis sera and 32 times higher than that of the asthma sera. There were also clear differences in the reactivities within the sarcoidosis sera tested. In sera from patients with clinically inactive sarcoidosis there were found nearly the same or only slightly higher titer steps than in control sera as well as tuberculosis sera, however in clinically active sarcoidosis the titer steps were clearly elevated. The findings are seen in connection with the role of atypical mycobacteria (MOTT) in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. The potential applications of the HIP- and Triton X-100 antigen fractions for in vitro diagnostics are discussed.

Lectins and their role in a new polyvalent bacterial vaccine against ARI.

The potency of the polyvalent bacterial vaccine (Infectvac) to prevent lethal infections with S. pneumoniae ATCC 6301 was examined. NMRI-mice were protected 2-5 times better than untreated controls. The protection is based on activation of resistance-mechanisms, e.g. interferon production. Most interesting is a strong activation of the phagocytosis-killing-system of alveolar macrophages after oral application of antigen (information: gut mucosa to lung mucosa). Using the same infection model the important role of bacterial lectins for infectious diseases was demonstrated. Blocking the combining site of the bacterial lectin of S. pneumoniae by intranasal application of N-acetylglucosamine (the specific carbohydrate for the lectin) was able to prevent a lethal infection with S. pneumoniae 3-times better than PBS or using not lectin relevant carbohydrates. Therefore, blocking the lectin receptor with specific carbohydrates might also be of clinical relevance to prevent acute respiratory infections (ARI).

[Rapid in vitro diagnosis of sarcoidosis using a RIA test]. / Beitrag zu einer schnellen In-vitro-Diagnostik der Sarkoidose unter Einsatz eines RIA-Testes.

The in-vitro test developed needs only 100 microliters serum and allows a diagnostic valuation within 3 days. Using special sarcoidosis antigen preparations the test showed better results than the Kveim test. There was not a false positive result in patients with tuberculosis and cancer.

Are lectins of Viscum album interesting tools in lung diseases? A review of recent results.

The data presented provide evidence that lectins isolated from different sources such as Abrus and Ricinus seeds and Viscum leaves are structurally related proteins and are probably homologues. The lectins have overall similarities in physical, chemical and biological properties. These proteins appear to be immunologically closely related and possess a high degree of conservation in their primary structures, anticipating a role in fundamental pathways common to all plants. Methods for the preparation, purification and characterization of the Viscum album lectins and comparative crossreactions with closely related lectins of the "toxic lectin" group are summarized. The biological properties of Viscum album lectins, especially their reaction with phagocytes, (phagocytosis), basophil granulocytes (histamine release) and tumour cells (inhibition of tumour growth) are presented and compared with those obtained with an anti-tumoral preparation derived from Viscum album, ISCADOR.

[Allogenic lung transplantations following pretreatment of recipients with donor-specific splenic antigens]. / Allogene Lungentransplantationen nach Vorbehandlung der Rezipienten mit spenderspezifischem Milzantigen.

Lung transplantations were carried out in 20 not immunologically selected mongrel dogs which were pretreated with donor specific spleno-antigen mixture. The average survival time was double the size (12.3 days) as in a control group of untreated dogs after allogenic lung transplantation. A number of the receivers got Cyclophosphamid in addition to the spleno-antigen mixture. In this group the average survival time amounted to 17 days. A chronic course of the rejection was not to be achieved with this method. The autopsy showed thoracic infectious complications in nearly all receivers. A great number of central pulmonary vein thromboses in the transplant was discovered in this series in contrast to other lung transplantation series. Circumstances refer to a connection with hyperacute rejection courses. The receivers of this series survived the destruction of the transplant longer on an average as such in other experimental series.

[Rapid cultivation of mycobacteria with a rotating incubator]. / Zur schnellen Anzucht von Mykobakterien im Rotationsinkubator.

A method is described which allows a rapid primary culture of mycobacteria. The basic principle is a rotating incubator fitted with special cultures tubes and a synthetic liquid culture medium. So it is possible to accelerate the growth and multiplication and to get instance an average generation time of 10 hours in M. tuberculosis. After conventional decontamination of the sputa with Nekal-BX and an incubation time of 1, 2 and 4 weeks the grown mycobacteria are proved by microscopy with a special fixation technique. Acridin-orange is used for staining. The conditions for application of the rapid culture method are discussed.

[Complications of experimental lung transplantations]. / Komplikationsmöglichkeiten experimenteller Lungentransplantationen.

Experimental lung transplantations are burdened with a very high rate of complications even is there is a strict consideration of sterile precautions. These complications occur predominantly directly in connection with organ rejection. Extrathoracic complications are rare and predominantly attributed to arterial embolism. All untreated receivers of lung had thoracic complications in autopsy. Only 5% of immune suppressively treated receivers were free of complications. Most frequent complications are pleuropulmonary infections. Weighty complications are haemorrhagic infarcts of the transplant and insufficiency of the bronchus. Only without complications can survived about years the chronic rejection.

[Investigations for improving the microscopic detection of mycobacteria following rapid cultivation by means of a rotating incubator. I. Improvement of the fixation technique (author's transl)]. / Untersuchungen zur Optimierung des mikroskopischen Nachweises von Mykobakterien nach Schnellanzucht im Rotationsinkubator. I. Mitteilung: Verbesserung der Fixationstechnik.

The optimal qualitative and quantitative identification by microscopy of mycobacteria cultivated in liquid medium in including several problems. Acridine-orange was used for staining in all investigations. Polyvinyl-alcohol (1--2.5%) proved to be the best means for fixing mycobacteria culture suspensions on slides. A reliable sterilization of the sides was possible with peracetic acid (3%). Tween 80 in the culture medium did not impair the adherence of the fixed suspension on the slide under these conditions. Mycobacteria in a suspension of 10(-4) mg (wet weight) per ml could be still found by microscopy with this procedure.

[Experimental findings after application of Kveim antigen. III. Sensitization of mice with living and killed strains of Mycobacterium avium (author's transl)]. / Experimentelle Befunde nach Applikation von Kveimantigen. III. Sensibilisierung von Mäusen durch lebende und abgetötete Stämme von Mycobacterium avium.

Mice were infected with Mycobacterium avium (serotype I and serotype II). The application of kveim antigen or two kinds of lipid fractions of Mycobacterium avium (serotype I or II) is followed in all cases by typical tissue reactions resembling positive kveim tests. Control animals which only received kveim antigen or lipid fractions of mycobacterium I showed in all cases negative kveim reactions. Sensibilization of mice with killed kinds of Mycobacterium avium I or II leads after application of kveim antigen or lipid fractions (outside and inside lipids of Mycobacterium avium I and II) only in few cases to positive kveim reactions.

[Morphologic studies on in experimental lung transplantations. II. Light microscopic and histochemical findings in the transplanted homologous dog lung]. / Morphologische Untersuchungen bei experimenteller Lungentransplantation. II. Lichtmikroskopische und histochemische Befunde an der homotransplantierten Hundelunge.

Morphologic Studies (light-microscopy, enzyme histochemistry, semi thin-layer preparation) on homografted canine lungs with and without immuno-suppressive therapy (Azathioprin, resp. anti-thymocyte serum) reveal different findings from untreated control animals and those after immuno-suppressive treatment. Under Azathioprin as well as anti-thymocyte serum the signs of rejection are attenuated, and regular pulmonary tissue is maintained in larger areas. Damages of certain cellular elements are better ascertained by means of determination of specific enzymes activities than by help of light-microscopic methods.

[Experimental findings after application of Kveim antigen. II. Sensibilization of mice and guinea pigs by Mycobacterium avium (serotype I) (author's transl)]. / Experimentelle Befunde nach Applikation von Kveimantigen. II. Sensibilisierung von Mäusen und Meerschweinchen durch aviäre Mykobakterien (Serotyp I).

Mice and guinea pigs were sensibilisized by intraperitoneal injection of Mycobacterium avium (serotype I). Three and five weeks later (guinea pigs) and four weeks later (mice) the animals received kveim antigen into the footpads (guinea pigs) and into the perianal fat tissue (mice). Three and five weeks later (guinea pigs) and four weeks later (mice) the exstirpated material was investigated by light microscopy and enzyme histochemistry. Guinea pigs showed three and five weeks after injection of kveim antigen a lot of questionable positive and positive kveim tests and mice a high percentage of granulomatous changes, resembling a positive kveim reaction. With histochemical methods leucinaminopeptidase is a valuable diagnostic aid for detection of granulomatous changes in mice but not so good in guinea pigs.

[Catalases of mycobacteria as antigens. I. Isolation, purification and characterization of catalases from different mycobacteria (author's transl)]. / Katalasen von Mykobakterien als Antigene. I. Isolierung, Reinigung und Charakterisierung von Katalasen verschiedener Mykobakterien.

Preparations of catalase isolated from the strains M. tuberculosis, M. kansasii and M. bovis BCG are produced for testing their antigenic activity. After desintegration of the bacteria the highest activity remained in the precipitation with 50% saturated ammonium sulphate solution. The further purification of the catalase-fractions occurred with the aid of column chromatography on Sephadex G 200 and DEAE-Sephadex-A 50 after ultrafiltration. In this way the relative activity increased in M. tuberculosis 3- to 4-fold, in M. kansasii 12-fold and in M. bovis BCG 16-fold. The catalase preparations are uniform and nearly free from other protein compounds as indicated by the results of immunoelectrophoresis and Ouchterlony test.

[Allergy and lectins: action between IgE-mediated histamine release and glycoproteins from Viscum album L. (mistletoe)]. / Allergie und Lektine: Wechselwirkung zwischen IgE-vermittelter Histaminfreisetzung und Glykoproteinen aus Viscum album L. (Mistel).

Low-molecular constituents from Viscum album (toxic) release, in irritatively toxic manner, histamine from human leukocytes without destroying the cells (cytotox test). This histamine release is prevented by preincubation with viscum lectins. The viscum lectin blocks the Fc-portion of allergen-specific IgE against anti-IgE [125I]. Lectin also inhibits the allergen-specific histamine release from human leukocytes occurring through IgE; this can be demonstrated on leukocytes from patients with atopic extrinsic asthma. The inhibitory effect of lectin could also be due to a primary membrane effect, in addition to blockage of IgE.

[The use of mycobacteria in the estimation of the concentration of antibiotics, antimycotics and antituberculotics (author's transl)]. / Zum Einsatz von Mykobakterien bei der Bestimmung der Antibiotika-, Antimykotika- bzw. Antituberkulotika-konzentration.

The possibility of using the rapid resistance test to determine the levels of antibiotic, antimycotic and antituberculotic drugs is systematically investigated. As a rule the incubation time reduced to seven days for tubercel bacilli results in a lower inhibitor concentration (MIC) than with other microbiological methods used in tuberculosis diagnostics due to a lower inactivation of the drugs. The MIC of antibiotics and antituberculotics is found between 0.02 and 15 microgram/ml; for penicillin G and nystatin between 100 and 400 microgram/ml. Urine added to the medium influences the MIC. A dilution of urine 1 : 100 corresponds to the MIC-value found in a control sample with aqua dest. For examining the level of antibiotic drugs in blood a dilution of the blood of at least 1 : 60 is necessary. In this way the levels of rifampicin and isoniazid may be examined. Only 0.1--0.2 ml of capillary blood are needed. If probenecid is administered simultaneously to the patient the rifampicin level in blood is increased for 6 hours. But this effect is small and does not justify a change in the usual dosage of rifampicin.